HRH. Princess Maka Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony for Astro Park - set to be the new headquarters of the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand, in Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai.

Dr. Pichet Durongkaveroj, Minister of Science and Technology presided over the MoU signing ceremony between Thailand Research Fund (TRF) under the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Programme or RGJ- Ph.D. Programme and 3 other agencies under the Ministry of Science and Technology. The 3 agencies namely National Science and Technology Development Agency, Synchrotron Light Research Institute (Public Organization), and National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Public Organization) inked the MoU with the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) to utilize the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Programme at its fullest capacity as there has been an escalating demand for highly and globally qualified Ph.D. graduates in Science, Technology and Innovation in the Thai society.

Prof.Boonrucksar Soonthornthum, NARIT Executive Director together with Dr. Pairash Thajchayapong, NARIT Executive Board Consultant and Dr. Wiphu Rujipakarn visited DESY (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron) in Zeuthen, the Federal Republic of Germany with a mission of expanding NARIT's expertise in Astroparticle Physics. The collaborative effort in Astroparticle Physics field with DESY had been well received by Professor Dr. Christian Stegmann, chief of DESY Zeuthen Office as he gave a thorough presentation of the missions that DESY is currently committed to and an explanation of Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA)- the main facility for Astroparticle Physics research work. Prof. Boonrucksar also put NARIT on display with the latest development of astronomy in Thailand and its plan in pinpointing Thailand in the field of Astroparticle Physics on the world map.

Today Prof. Boonrucksar Soonthornthum, Executive Director of NARIT puts SEAAN MOdeling and Data Analysis or SEAMODA on display at 69th ASEAN Committee on Sicence and Technology in Phuket. This second time around, SEAMODA workshop has set a benchmark for the workshop of its kind that brings about astronomers from the member countries in ASEAN to construct High Performance Computing Cluster that will garner the science- grade data to be utilized in the research work of SEAAN (Southeast Asia Astronomy Network).

Following on the successful visit to South African Large Telescope (SALT) in early 2015, Prof. Boonrucksar, in return, had a chance to welcome Dr. David Buckley, Head of SALT Project on his visit to NARIT and TNO.